DEUTZ Australia’s Ross Harman has strong ties to four Australian places. Raised in Queensland, Ross lived in Adelaide before settling in Melbourne and is related to John Gale, the man widely regarded as “The Father of Canberra”.
John, who was Ross’s great, great, great uncle, famously rode his horse up Kurrajong Hill in 1855 to declare the land perfect for a future city that eventually became Canberra.
Now DEUTZ Australia’s Business Development Manager, Ross still proudly calls himself a Queenslander and supports its Rugby League State of Origin Team.
He also loves Melbourne. Ross married his wife Robyn in Adelaide, where he lived for seven years before moving to Victoria 30 years ago. He joined DEUTZ Australia in February 2016, having worked for major engine manufacturers in similar roles.
Ross has seen many changes in the industry, including telex machines making way for fax machines, personal computers, mobile phone technology and engine emissions regulations.
He now works with OEMs and finds new customers. “I provide pricing quotes, develop engine scopes to suit their equipment and encourage them to use DEUTZ engines,” Ross says.
A typical day involves searching for potential OEM customers, responding to quote requests and following up engine sales opportunities.
Ross spends his spare time with his family. He attends Church and its activities, plays golf, takes his five grandsons to basketball and researches the family history.
Among other things, Ross learned that John Gale was a respected resident of Queanbeyan, near Canberra, and is immortalised in a statue on Monaro Street.
A father of 11, John founded what became The Queanbeyan Age and served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.
Ross also demonstrates leadership qualities. He relishes the challenge of working with OEMs to create solutions and represents DEUTZ to the Australian Diesel Engine Distributors Association (ADEDA) and currently serves as its president.
“Customer service and building good business relationships is a priority,” he says.
“I enjoy representing a premium brand and product and telling the history of the company and the prominent people that worked for DEUTZ in its early years, such as Daimler, Bugatti, Rudolf Diesel and Robert Bosch.”
